Soldier stabbed his former girlfriend at her home in Droylsden after 'secret abortion'

Ian Lowe, 25, a lance corporal with 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, had also discovered that Leanne McNuff, 24, has started a relationship with another man, it was alleged. He denies murder but admits manslaughter.

A soldier who used the nickname 'Boom Boom' stabbed his girlfriend to death after he hacked into her Facebook page and found out that she had aborted their child, a court heard.

Ian Lowe, 25, had also discovered that Leanne McNuff, 24, has started a relationship with another man, it was alleged.

Mr Lowe, a lance corporal with 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, is accused of smashing his way into Leanne's home in Mellor Street, Droylsden, and stabbing her repeatedly before stamping on her face.

She was found in a pool of blood by her brother, Ryan McNuff.

Leanne's mother, Margaret McNuff, tried desperately to save her life but she died later in hospital, a murder trial jury at Manchester Crown Court was told.

Mr Lowe - who was based at Army barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and had started a relationship with another woman - has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder.

The court heard that Mr Lowe, who had been in an on-off relationship with Leanne since 2006, was on bail at the time of the killing on March 11 after being charged with assaulting her the previous month.

He denied the charge and was warned not to contact Leanne as a condition of his bail.

But the jury was told that he repeatedly called and texted her.

It was alleged that the day before her death, Mr Lowe - who used Facebook under the name Ian 'Boom Boom' Lowe - wrote on the social networking site: “Need a weapon out of the armoury to shoot the bitch.”

Then, on the day of her killing, the jury was told that he posted another message saying: “Just to let everybody know, Leanne has aborted the baby.

“She did not tell me or even give me a say in the matter.”

Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said: “It is the prosecution case that the defendant kicked in the front door of the house where Leanne McNuff was and attacked her by stabbing her repeatedly to the upper body and by stamping on her face.”

The jury was told that Mr Lowe claims he killed Leanne because he lost 'self-control' when she attacked him with a knife.

It was alleged that their relationship turned sour and they split up a month before Leanne's death.

Mr Lowe, the court heard, told her that he was going to 'make her life hell'.

Mr Flewitt said Leanne told Mr Lowe about the baby but said she did not want a relationship with him.

Four days later, the jury was told, Mr Lowe attacked her at the house – the incident that led to police charging him with assault.

The court heard that in a statement to police Leanne said she was 'frightened to death', adding: “I was scared he'd either really hurt me or I'd lose the baby.”

The jury was told that Leanne confided her fears over Mr Lowe to a health worker and an abortion was arranged. The termination was carried out on March 1 - 10 days before her death.

Mr Flewitt said: “Although Leanne McNuff did not tell the

defendant that she had terminated the pregnancy, he later found out about it by hacking into her Facebook account. She tried desperately to prevent him from doing so.”

The court heard Leanne referred to Mr Lowe on Facebook as a 'violent, horrible bully'.

It was alleged that Mr Lowe had been drinking with a friend and his father at Droylsden Labour Club on the night of the killing.

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A soldier stabbed his girlfriend to death in front of their four-year-old son who was found crying and screaming 'Daddy's killed Mummy', a court heard. Ian Lowe, 25, is alleged to have smashed his way into Leanne McNuff's home in Mellor Street, Droylsden, and stabbed her repeatedly in a 'deliberate and unprovoked attack' at the top of the stairs before stamping on her face.

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